Baseball notebook: Baker happy to see Cueto escape jam

Tuesday

Mar 31, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Reds manager Dusty Baker liked the way starter Johnny Cueto pitched out of a threat in the fourth inning, when he lost his feel for his pitches, in Cincinnati's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday in Bradenton, Fla.

Reds manager Dusty Baker liked the way starter Johnny Cueto pitched out of a threat in the fourth inning, when he lost his feel for his pitches, in Cincinnati's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday in Bradenton, Fla.

As a rookie last season, Cueto tended to let one lapse lead to another, setting up a big inning.

"That's maturity," Baker said. "He's matured. He takes his time. He knows what he has to do."

Cueto, who has a 1.57 ERA this spring, gave up three hits, four walks and one run in five innings. After Craig Monroe hit a sacrifice fly for the second out in the fourth inning, Cueto walked the next three batters before getting Nate McLouth to line out to second baseman Brandon Phillips, who jumped to make the catch.

"He lost control that one inning, but other than that one inning, he threw the ball great," Baker said. "He got unraveled a little bit, then he gathered himself and found the strike zone."

The Reds reduced their roster to 33 players by sending outfielder Jacque Jones to their minor-league camp and optioning outfielder Norris Hopper and right-hander Daryl Thompson to triple-A Louisville.

Jackson earns spot in Indians' rotation

Zach Jackson will open the season as the final pitcher on the Cleveland Indians' roster.

The left-hander was told yesterday by manager Eric Wedge that he will be with the team when Cleveland opens the season April 6.

"Zach is a guy who is going to help us and I think sooner than later. He's had a very good camp," Wedge said, adding that veteran right-handers Matt Herges and Vinny Chulk will be sent to triple-A Columbus.

Jackson began spring training in a competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but Wedge liked the way the 25-year-old worked in relief. In six outings over 18 1/3 innings, he had a 6.87 ERA with 11 strikeouts and just four walks.

The Indians also placed David Dellucci on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left calf and recalled outfielder Trevor Crowe from triple-A Columbus.

Selig appoints panel to look into A's park

Frustrated at the Oakland Athletics' inability to get a new ballpark, baseball commissioner Bud Selig has appointed a committee to analyze the team's hopes of obtaining a stadium in its current territory.

Selig met Saturday with Oakland's management in Phoenix. His announcement yesterday followed the team's decision Feb. 24 to scrap plans for a ballpark in Fremont.

The team's lease at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum expires after the 2010 season and contains three one-year club options.

"Lew Wolff and the Oakland ownership group and management have worked very hard to obtain a facility that will allow them to compete into the 21st century," Selig said. "To date they, like the two ownership groups in Oakland before them, have been unsuccessful in those efforts, despite having the significant support of their corporate partner Cisco. The time has come for a thorough analysis of why a stadium deal has not been reached. The A's cannot and will not continue indefinitely in their current situation."

Short hops

Travis Hafner hit his first homer since October shoulder surgery in Cleveland's 5-2 win over San Diego.

"I've really started felt better, timingwise, the past couple days," said the 31-year-old designated hitter, who is hitting .227 with five RBI.

Indians starter Carl Pavano allowed runs in each of the first two innings, then retired 10 in a row. He gave up four hits, walked one and struck out four in seven innings.

• Cleveland's home opener against Toronto on April 10 is sold out, the Indians' 16th consecutive opening-day sellout since Progressive Field opened in 1994.

• Milwaukee put closer Trevor Hoffman (strained right oblique muscle) on the 15-day disabled list, ruling the all-time saves leader out for the start of the season. The move is retroactive to Friday.

• San Diego pitcher Cha Seung Baek will miss his final spring training start and possibly the beginning of the season because of a strained right forearm.